New Immy Award Will be Presented to Cartoonist During Weird Contest Week

OCEAN CITY – Weird Contest Week has been held in Ocean City for 17 years and will be held once again Aug. 15-19. It features a series of “Wacky But Not Tacky” free competitions 11 a.m. daily at the Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorlyn Terrace.
City Public Relations Director, Mark Soifer, who originated the week, is continuously surprised by the imaginative entries: A Ferris Wheel sculpted out of Salt Water Taffy, Elvis in French Fries, the Eiffel Tower made out of paper clips, a flower chewed out of a huge cookie.
“To me, it’s a real celebration of the imagination. I’ve been thinking we should do more to recognize the creative talents of people and those who put their creativity to good use.”
With that in mind, WCW has initiated the “Immy Award” to be presented to someone with an outstanding imagination and a good heart to go with it.
The first recipient will be Jerome “Jerry” Lukas of Virginia, the “Johnny Appleseed of Cartoonists” Lukas is often on the road as a professional free lance artist and is never without his pen and drawing paper.
The cartoonist has given away over 1,300 drawings since January 1st and a total of 12,000 cartoons over the years. An out going, affable person, Lukas has drawn cartoons at airports, schools, restaurants, parties, casual meeting, wherever he happens to be.
“His approach is direct,” says Soifer who has seen Lukas in action many times. “What’s your name and what’s your favorite animal?” he will ask a waitress. “She thinks about it. “A deer.” she says.
Zip. Out comes the pen and paper. And by the time he’s finished dinner, a professional cartoon of the deer has emerged, dedicated to the waitress and accompanied by inspirational copy.
“He hands the cartoon to the waitress,” says Soifer. “She breaks into a big smile. That’s it. That’s the pay off for Lukas, a big smile.”
Born and raised in Vineland, Jerry was a multi-talented youngster who played piano at a local restaurant and earned money impersonating Batman at malls. He began drawing cartoons as a teenager and was cartoonist for the University of Pennsylvania’s daily newspaper where he drew and interviewed such celebrities as Janis Joplin. He now creates videos for major corporations and has designed a logo for the Emmy Awards.
Lukas spent time in Ocean City during the 1960s earning a living by decorating T Shirts and Sweat Shirts and entertaining at a popular teen coffee spot, The White Whale.
“He’s an ideal first honoree,” says Soifer. “A talented man who has cheered thousands with his fertile imagination and asked nothing in return.”
Lukas will receive his award on Wed., Aug. 17 during the third day of Weird Contest Week that features That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles or Cookie Sculpting. He will demonstrate his cartooning prowess during the event that starts at 11 a.m. in the Pavilion of the Music Pier and draw free cartoons for youngster.
The Contests include the following sculpting competions: Taffy on Monday, French Fries on Tuesday, Cookies on Wednesday and Paper Clips on Thursday. Friday features Little Miss and Little Mr. Chaos: children sit on the Music Pier stage, bang on pots and pans and make all the noise they can muster in two minutes. Contests end on Friday with Miss Miscellaneous and Mr. Miscellaneous for folks who have always wanted to be in a Talent Show but maybe missed the bus or got stuck at a Rugby match.
For information, call the Public Relations Office, 609-525-9300.